Katana

Katana is Novomatic's feudal Japan slot built around a shogun wild that only expands when it guarantees a win, no wasted activations. Free spins trigger off the katana scatter, add 10 spins per activation, and retrigger indefinitely. The game runs on 20 paylines across a 5x3 grid with a 5000-coin top payout for five shoveled symbols. At Wild.io it plays on desktop and mobile with crypto support.

What is Katana?

Katana is a 5x3 video slot from Novomatic with a 92.09% RTP, high volatility, and a maximum win of 5000 coins. It plays on 20 paylines and features an expanding Shogun wild that only activates when a win is guaranteed, plus a free spins round with retriggering.

The conditional expanding wild is the mechanic that sets Katana apart from standard high-volatility Japanese-themed slots. The Shogun symbol will expand to cover an entire reel only if doing so produces at least one winning combination, which eliminates the frustration of a wild expanding into a non-winning arrangement. Free spins use the same reel set, so the Shogun can still expand during bonus play.

Who will enjoy this game the most?

You will probably enjoy this game if you like:

• High-volatility players who want a game where the expanding wild only fires when it counts
• Fans of Japanese feudal aesthetics with premium symbol art (shogun, geisha, warriors, temples)
• Free spins lovers who appreciate retriggerable bonus rounds with no hard cap
• Players who find 20 paylines the right balance between coverage and transparency
• Novomatic regulars looking for a volatility profile steeper than their classic titles

How To Play Katana Slot - Step By Step

Head to Wild.io and create a free account to start playing Katana.

1. Open Katana at Wild.io, demo mode is available before wagering.
2. Set your bet and select active paylines (up to 20).
3. Spin the 5x3 grid. The Shogun wild expands to fill its reel only when a win is guaranteed by the expansion.
4. Land three or more Katana scatter symbols anywhere on the reels to trigger 10 free spins.
5. During free spins, land another three or more Katana scatters to retrigger, each retrigger adds 10 more free spins with no cap on how many times this can occur.

You can also deposit using various supported payment methods.

Katana Slot Theme & Graphics

Katana places its reels against a misty feudal Japanese landscape with pagoda silhouettes and samurai iconography. The symbol art is the strongest visual point: the Shogun is rendered as a powerful warrior figure, the Geisha is depicted with full period-accurate costuming, and the temple and warrior symbols carry the kind of detailed illustration that Novomatic uses for its higher-production titles. The katana scatter symbol is the Japanese sword rendered with a metallic sheen that distinguishes it from the weapon-themed paying symbols.

Ambient music blends traditional Japanese instrumentation with a modern arrangement, lower and more atmospheric than the punchy audio of Novomatic's classic reel games. On mobile the 5x3 layout works well with 20 paylines, and the Shogun expansion animation is smooth and legible without dominating the small screen.

Katana Slot Symbols & Paytables

Katana's symbols split into a low card-rank tier, a high Japanese character tier, and the Shogun wild plus Katana scatter pair.

Low Value Symbols

The lower-value symbols use playing card ranks styled with Japanese calligraphic brushwork: 10, J, Q, K, and A. These form the majority of base-game winning combinations across the 20 paylines and are the symbols players see most between Shogun wild appearances and scatter triggers. Five Aces on a payline pay noticeably more than five 10s, following a standard ascending order. The card symbols are competent filler that maintains session momentum without generating significant payouts on their own.

High Value Symbols

The four premium symbols are the game's visual centrepieces: the Shogun warrior, a Geisha, armed Warriors, and a Temple. Five Shoveled symbols (five Shogun wilds) on a payline represent the maximum single-combination payout of 5000 coins. The Geisha and Warriors pay the middle tiers of the premium range. These symbols appear in their standard form on non-wild reels and do not stack in the same way the wild does, but their high individual pay values make them the primary targets when the Shogun wild expands beside them.

Special Symbols

The Shogun is both a paying symbol and the wild. When it appears on any reel, it considers whether expanding to fill the entire reel would produce a win. If it does, it expands. If not, it stays as a single symbol in its original position. This conditional behaviour means the expansion mechanic only fires when it adds value. The Katana sword is the scatter symbol, three or more anywhere on the 5x3 grid trigger 10 free spins regardless of reel position.

Katana Bonus Feature & Special Features

Expanding Shogun Wild

The Shogun wild symbol carries a conditional expansion mechanic: it expands to cover all positions on its reel only when the expansion guarantees a win. This is a design choice that eliminates the scenario where an expanding wild activates but contributes nothing to the outcome. In practical terms, when a Shogun lands on a reel with high-value symbols on adjacent reels, it will expand and complete those combinations. When no win is possible from expansion, it stays as a single symbol and the regular payline logic applies. The mechanic operates in both the base game and free spins, making the Shogun a reliable value-add rather than a random multiplier.

Free Spins

Three or more Katana scatter symbols landing anywhere on the 5x3 grid award 10 free spins. The free spins use the same reels and the same conditional Shogun wild, so the expansion mechanic carries into the bonus. The retrigger rule is straightforward: land another three or more Katana scatters during free spins and 10 more spins are added to your total. There is no stated cap on retriggering, which means a hot session of scatter appearances can extend the bonus round significantly. High volatility means the distribution of wins within the free spins skews toward occasional large outcomes rather than steady small pays.

Pros & Cons of Katana

Here is a quick overview of the key strengths and weaknesses of Katana.

How to Deposit, Withdraw Winnings & Gamble Responsibly at Wild.io

Getting started with Katana at Wild.io takes only a few steps. Follow the Wild.io deposit guide if you need the full walkthrough:

1. Create a free account at Wild.io.
2. Open your crypto wallet from the account menu.
3. Make a deposit using your preferred cryptocurrency.
4. Launch Katana from the games library.
5. Choose demo mode or real-money play, then set your stake and spin.

Withdrawing winnings is just as fast: return to your wallet, pick your payout coin, and confirm. See Wild.io withdrawal times for typical processing speeds.

To help players stay in control, Wild.io includes several responsible gambling tools:

• Deposit limits
• Session reminders
• Self-exclusion tools
• Reality checks
• Account time-outs

Before you start playing, set a clear budget, self-assess your habits, and stick to limits that feel comfortable. Take regular breaks, avoid chasing losses, and play responsibly. Gambling should always be treated as entertainment rather than a way to make money.